If you're planning on hitting the road or flying over Memorial Day weekend, you're not alone. But if you want to avoid the crowds, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
According to AAA, travel numbers are expected to reach record levels this year.
“We haven't seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in nearly two decades,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president at AAA Travel, said in a statement. “We are projecting 1 million more travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019. Not only does this exceed pre-pandemic levels, it also signals a very busy upcoming summer travel season.”
On the roads, experts predict that 38.4 million people will travel by car across the U.S. over Memorial Day weekend, “the highest number for the holiday since AAA began tracking it in 2000.”
Meanwhile, the Chicago Department of Aviation reported that more than 1.67 million passengers are expected to depart from Chicago's airport between Thursday and Tuesday alone, an 8.6 percent increase over the same period last year, based on airline forecasts.
O'Hare is expected to see more than 1.38 million passengers over the holiday, about 10% more than in 2023, while Midway Airlines expects more than 294,000 passengers to use the airport, a 3.1% increase over last year. Friday is expected to be the busiest day for both airports.
“This summer travel season is expected to be the busiest in recent years, and O'Hare and Midway airports are ready to welcome travelers from around the world to Chicago,” Chicago Airports Development Authority Executive Director Jamie L. Lee said in a statement.
Want to avoid the worst of the mess?
If you plan to drive, AAA suggests the best and most convenient travel times.
Date Worst Travel Times Best Travel Times Thursday, May 23rd 12:00-18:00 Before 11am, after 7pm Friday, May 24th 12:00-19:00 Before 11am, after 8pm Saturday, May 25th 2:00-17:00 Before 1pm, after 6pm Sunday, May 26th 3:00-19:00 Before 1pm Monday, May 27th 3:00-19:00 After 7pm
If you're traveling by plane, experts say you should arrive early and be prepared to go through security: The Transportation Security Administration recommends arriving at least 90 minutes early for domestic flights and two hours early for international flights.
Another factor that can hinder travel is the weather.
The Chicago area could see “slightly” severe weather on Friday, which could disrupt airport and road travel depending on when the storm arrives.
That “slight” risk extends across the Chicago area and northwest Indiana, where the threat of any type of severe weather could develop on Friday, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Ground stop orders issued during the storm could result in planes being stopped at their departure points or prevent flights from departing O'Hare and Midway airports from mid-to-late afternoon.
You can catch all the latest developments, live radar and more on the NBC Chicago app, the NBC 5 Storm Team on TV and our 24/7 streaming service.
